Checkers Contribute More Than $440,000 to Community in 2013-14 Season

The Charlotte Checkers announced today that the team contributed more than $440,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to the Charlotte community during the 2013-14 season and more than $3 million since Michael Kahn took ownership of the team in 2006.

Major fundraising events in 2013-14 included the Checkers’ St. Baldrick’s initiative, which raised more than $91,000 for childhood cancer research, the annual Novant Health Pink in the Rink ($44,900), Salute to Heroes ($25,000) and the Checkers 5K Walk & Run, which welcomed more than 500 participants and raised $15,000 for the team’s foundation.

In total, Checkers players, employees and fans volunteered more than 2,000 hours of service to dozens of local non-profit organizations. The volunteer initiative began in the summer with the launch of the Checkers/Chiquita Brands I.C.E. (inspiring community enrichment) Team, which attended more than 60 events and volunteered more than 1,000 hours.

Several educational programs continued in 2013-14, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 area elementary and high school students in more than 400 classrooms. The programs included the Science of Hockey, which teaches the elements of science in hockey, PowerPLAY, which encourages healthy eating and active living, and the School Assembly Program, which teaches valuable and motivational life skills.

Additionally, using Checkers tickets as a fundraising platform, 53 local schools and non-profit organizations were able to raise more than $102,000.